An end of term feeling to this week’s column, as the various leagues wind down for a 2 week Christmas break (and typed up between breaks in my own pre-Christmas build-up..!).

One move down under I’d missed until Siggo pointed it out to me was George Dockrell, who has played 4 T20s for Valley District 1st XI in Queensland. He has taken wickets in all 4 games, 6 at 24.50 (a very low average in this competition), and has had particular success in the field, taking 3 catches and assisted in 2 run outs. Given the importance of this format next year in the WT20Qs, he will be hoping to carry that form forward into 2019.

Last Sunday, a large number of Irishmen played the same format.

Andy McBrine contributed 10(13) to Midland-Guildford’s 131/8, with his 3 overs going for 0-21 (he assisted in a run out), but their Scarborough opponents managed a 5 wicket victory with 13 balls to spare.

Stuart Thompson was an opening batsman with Wanneroo, but managed only 1(5) against Gosnells. However, his 1-31 assisted his side in a 10-run victory.

Jacob Mulder took wickets again for South Perth, his 2-23 in 4 overs helping them to a 37 run victory over Joondalup, and after 3 games for the 1st XI in that format, his average has been an excellent 12.60. He has shown talent in the past, and his best format (and the more familiar conditions of Perth) show that he will remain in the reckoning for Irish selection, particularly for T20 tournaments in more spin-friendly conditions than would sometimes present in Ireland.

Also in WA T20 action, Sean Terry’s 48 runs was the difference in his Meville’s 14 run victory over Bayswater-Morley in a low scoring game, where the next highest score was 27 runs. Terry’s averages this year so far are 44.83 in 1st Grade and 31.67 in T20, underlining the potential loss his retirement from professional cricket is.

Recently updated scorecards for Ross Allen’s Centrals’ last week show a young man in great form. In a T20 last Saturday, he took 1-7 from his 3 overs, as they restricted Latrobe to 88-8, he batted at 3 and steered then to a 9-wicket victory with an unbeaten 56*. The following day, he played another (50 over ) game against Leongatha. With the ball, he took 5 for 31 off 10 overs, and then scored 21 runs, batting at 3, helping his side to a 3 wicket victory.

He currently averages 9.23 with the ball, and 38.00 with the bat.

Aaron Gillespie also in T20, scored a brisk 22(15), however his Albury side lost by 29 runs to North Albury.

The Irish contingent in Preston Victoria proved the difference again in their 50-over match with Plenty Valley. Fionn Hand took an economical 1-16 in his 8 overs, and Eoghan Delany steered his side to 4-wicket victory, with another unbeaten half-century that brings his average, in the 50-over format, to a staggering 90.80 this season. If he carries this form back with him to Dublin, he will provide Lightning selectors with some (pleasant) headaches.

Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin scored 5 runs of Lisarow’s 119, as they beat Terrigal by 18 runs in a low scoring T20. Niall McGovern scored 4 runs for North Eltham, as they lost their Barclay Shield game against Lower Eltham by 6 wickets.

Sophie McMahon played a big part in Gordon Blue’s big win against Penrith in a T20 last Sunday. OPening the bowling, she took 1-17 in her 3 overs as their opponents were restricted to 76-8, and she then top scored with 22(22), as they won by 4 wickets.

That’s it for another week (and calendar year!). Again, grateful for news on anything I’ve missed and any errors. I hope you all have a great Christmas and a brilliant 2019.